Jacqueline Marie Riley, formerly Jacqueline Pontious, 96, passed away April 16, 2021, at her residence in Bellevue, Wash. Daughter of Pearl Abney and William E. Pontious, she was born in Ryderwood, Wash., Oct. 13, 1924. She graduated from Winlock High School in 1942, went on to attend the University of Washington.
In January of 1945, Jacqueline married John Warren Riley, who was a JG in the United States Navy. After the war, her husband attended law school and Jackie worked as an assistant editor for Miller Freeman publications. She and her husband were very active in state and national politics. Jacqueline was the state secretary and office manager of volunteers for Adlai Stevenson in 1952, and worked on other state and national campaigns.
After her two youngest children entered college, she returned to the UW herself to finish her education and completed her bachelor degree requirements in English and Political Science. She and John traveled extensively visiting nearly every corner of the globe. Traveling frequently to different parts of Mexico and attending language schools, she became fluent in Spanish and later studied French. She adored the culture, people and languages as well as the arts and music.
Jacqueline was the mother to five children, four sons and one daughter. She was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother, fondly referred to as "Tutu" by her three granddaughters. Every photo taken showed her smiling, hands often extended in the air, capturing her joy of the moment.
A service to celebrate her life will be held at St. Patricks Church in Seattle, Wash., May 14, 2021, at 3 p.m.
